A study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has found that marijuana use does not significantly impact outcomes in breast reduction surgeries.
Conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and NYU Langone, the study aimed to clarify whether marijuana use might influence surgical outcomes or quality of life (QoL) post-surgery, as marijuana use continues to rise nationwide.
The study involved a retrospective review of patients who underwent breast reduction surgeries from 2016 to 2022. Researchers analyzed 415 patients, of whom 140 reported marijuana use. Through propensity score matching, 108 patients were compared (54 marijuana users and 54 nonusers) based on factors such as age, body mass index, and breast tissue mass to ensure similar patient demographics.
Results indicated no significant differences in surgical outcomes between marijuana users and nonusers. Both groups showed similar rates of surgical site occurrences, scarring, pain levels, and sensation changes, with no statistically significant differences in the number of readmissions, reoperations, or emergency department visits. Additionally, both marijuana users and nonusers reported similar improvements in quality of life post-surgery, measured by the BREAST-Q questionnaire.
“This study indicates that marijuana use does not significantly impact breast reduction surgery outcomes,” the researchers concluded. “Comparable surgical results and postoperative QoL improvements were observed in both marijuana users and nonusers.” The findings suggest that marijuana use does not present additional risks for patients undergoing this type of procedure, allowing surgeons to provide more comprehensive preoperative counseling.
For the full text of this study, click here.
